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In a global culture and economy dominated by screens, society increasingly demands screen media literacy from everyone. It’s how we communicate. It’s how we learn. It’s how we interact. Now. But just as writing makes us better readers, true media literacy education must involve creating media.

This dynamic panel explores new approaches to digital media literacy and the potential impact on education, literacy programs, and learning. We will define what media literacy is now, how it is evolving, and how it is best achieved.

The discussion will explore how – using simple, accessible technology – people begin to take charge of their own media literacy by creating short films and ePortfolios themselves. We will showcase and discuss some of their work, outlining an approach that is practical, empowering, and transformative. These learning processes connect to all facets of technology usage, including homes, libraries, and schools, allowing people to acquire and apply a deeper, broader knowledge and understanding of screen media.

We will also take a look at the exigencies and benefits of expanding a practicum approach, along with potential successes, challenges, and significance as screen usage evolves. Focusing on both adults and young people, the panel will explore how the creation of small, relevant movies, and personal online ePortfolios, can enable deeper, more authentic learning and collaborative possibilities, allowing us all to communicate more effectively, to self assess more reflectively, and to thrive in a screen-based world.

Additionally, this discussion will address other key issues in digital media literacy including:

• Technology access issues including hardware, software and cloud-based applications. • Screen media usage and program impact on library systems. • Defining the new digital divide. • The importance of creative thinking in a screen-based world.

Discussion will center around these issues along with the showing of several example films and websites.

Ms. Johnston is currently the Managing Director at IGI Global, an academic reference publisher based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. During her time at IGI Global, she has procured hundreds of titles within five separate imprints and has made significant contributions to content strategy... Read More →

Associate Professor of Communication and Digital Media, Carthage College

Paul Chilsen started in Film & TV in Los Angeles, but left to pursue graduate school at Columbia College Chicago where he made the award-winning short "Gross Ratings." Paul was a Follet Fellow at Columbia and did postgraduate work at UW-Madison. He has directed and written feature... Read More →

Christine Wells is a department chair, musical director, and K-8 music teacher in Deerfield, Illinois. A published author and National Board Certified teacher, she holds the M.Ed. from Carthage in Creative Arts, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. She focuses... Read More →